Spain's Roman Catholic church hierarchy was faced with a rebellion among some of its own clergy yesterday as leftwing priests in one of Madrid's poorest neighbourhoods defied a ban on them celebrating Easter mass. Hundreds of worshippers packed into the parish church of San Carlos Borromeo after the three priests there refused to bow to an order from their archbishop closing the parish down. More worshippers spilled on to the streets of the traditionally working-class district as the priests, followers of liberation theology, defied a threat from the church to punish them if they continued to celebrate mass here as they have done for almost three decades. "The church hierarchy does not want churches for the poor," said parishioner María Martínez before the Easter Mass began with guitar music. Placards reading "Solidarity with the parish of San Carlos Borromeo" and "The hierarchy can close premises but not a church" were hung outside the small one-roomed strip-lit church.... http://www.guardian.co.uk

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani told reporters Monday that Iran has begun enriching uranium using 3,000 centrifuges. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that his country was now capable of producing nuclear fuel on an ``industrial scale,'' in an expansion of the uranium enrichment program that the United Nations has demanded it halt. The announcement suggests Iran has succeeded in operating a larger number of centrifuges at its Natanz enrichment facility in central Iran. The country has said its goal is to install and start working with 3,000 centrifuges. Ahmadinejad did not specify how many centrifuges were now operational as he spoke at a ceremony at the facility, marking the one-year anniversary of Iran's first success in enriching small amounts of uranium. ``With great honor, I declare that as of today our dear country has joined the nuclear club of nations and can produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale,'' Ahmadinejad said. ...http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6543671,00.html

Eritrea is fuelling the insurgency in Somalia in order to wage a proxy war against its arch-foe Ethiopia, according to the top US official for Africa. Jendayi Frazer, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said that Eritrea was the largest foreign backer of guerrillas who are fiercely resisting attempts by Ethiopia and the Somali government to pacify Mogadishu. "No insurgency group can survive without support from neighbouring countries," said Ms Frazer in Nairobi on Saturday night, just hours after becoming the highest ranking US official to visit Somalia for 14 years. The nerve of these people trying to wage a Proxy War, while we are waging a proxy war. Our Proxie Wars Good, others Bad. Now do as we say, not as we do. And don’t sell arms in our market...http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2052758,00.html

It didn't feel like April in much of the country Monday morning, with unseasonably cold temperatures and, near the Great Lakes, snow. The cold snap also put a chill on Easter Sunday services across the Southeast and much of the rest of the country, moving some events indoors and adding layers over spring frocks. Even baseball had to take another time out — because of snow. "Most of the country is still chillier than normal ... 10 to 15 degrees below normal," CBS News Early Show weatherman Dave Price said Monday. Up to 2 inches more snow was possible for the Great Lakes region. This Easter Sunday the weather felt more like Christmas, reports CBS News correspondent Joie Chen. Even in the nation's capital, well-known for its fickle temperatures, the cold snap has been a stunner, coming at what ought to be the peak of its much loved cherry blossom season. ...http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/09/national/main2662629.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._2662629

India's Supreme Court has ordered a state government to stop prosecuting on charges of racial hatred a U.S. scholar whose book was banned after claims that it insulted a revered 17th-century Hindu king.The 2004 publication of Professor James W. Laine's book "Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India" infuriated hardline Hindu groups in the western state of Maharashtra, who claimed Laine was questioning Shivaji's parentage. The book was banned in the state after dozens of protesters forced their way into the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, where the professor did his research. The mob destroyed rare Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts and smashed windows and doors. The book's publisher, Oxford University Press, withdrew all copies from circulation in India and issued an apology for the upset. ...http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3022483

The Ministry of Defence is to review rules allowing personnel to sell stories to the media following the row over the Navy crew held by Iran. Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Adrian Johns said a review is under way across the armed forces, because the current regulations are outdated. It comes after two of the 15-strong Navy crew held in Iran sold stories. Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper. Some of the reported six-figure sum for the interview with Leading Seaman Turney will go to navy families. Relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq last week have criticised the decision to allow the crew to sell their stories. The mother of Eleanor Dlugosz - the 19-year-old army medic from Hampshire killed - did not criticise the crew, but said her daughter "wouldn't have wanted any monetary gain for herself" for serving in Iraq, "only perhaps donations to Royal British Legion". ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6538921.stm